After rehabbing his surgically repaired left Achilles tendon for the past five months, Bryant expressed his sharpest level of optimism that he will return for the Lakers’ season opener Oct. 29 against the Clippers at Staples Center.

“Now it’s about cutting the recovery time, I should be OK [for the start of the season]."

“He’s doing well and has had no setbacks. There’s no projected date. He’ll be ready when he’s ready. Nobody has a crystal ball on this thing.

He doesn’t have injuries in the rest of his body. When a guy has been out for a long time, that neuromuscular system shuts down and the nerves don’t fire the muscles in the right pattern in the right way. We have to get this whole thing working again. Think of him as a Ferrari. He’s a machine. If those pistons aren’t firing in the right position and in the right pattern, the timing is off. Other structures can be taking loads that aren’t build for that. The rehab is not directly solely to the Achilles tendon.”

---End of Update---

UPDATE: Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 6:15 a.m. ET

Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times passed along a statement from Lakers spokesman John Black discussing Kobe Bryant's recovery from Achilles surgery:

"He's progressing well and has met all the targets and milestones of his rehab, and we expect him to make a full recovery," Lakers spokesman John Black told The Times on Monday. "One of the key issues is to make sure he builds up strength and endurance not only in his Achilles but also in his legs, knees, back and core."

Bresnhan followed with an updated timetable for Bryant's return to the court:

More time has passed in Kobe Bryant’s recovery from a torn left Achilles tendon. But the Lakers star still hasn’t received any clarity as how that will translate when he returns to the basketball court.

‘I don’t know [whether] that means I’ll start the season – I hope so,” Bryant said in a recent interview to Time Out Dubai to promote hisupcoming trip there later this month to host a basketball clinic.

'The surgical procedure was different […] and because of that the recovery has been different,' [Kobe] Bryant said in the southern city of Shenzhen. 'The normal timetable for recovery from an Achilles, we’ve shattered that. Three-and-a-half months I can already walk just fine, I’m lifting weights with the Achilles just fine and that’s different. So we don’t know what that timetable is going to be. It’s kind of new territory for us all.'

Bryant sat down with Lakers.com to provide further updates on his recovery earlier in the week:

It's feeling really strong. I can walk without a limp … I can go up the stairs and just stand on my toe, which shows a lot of strength in the tendon.

Bryant also confirmed that he is still targeting a November or December return, stating:

Absolutely. It really just depends on the tendon. When the doctor takes the Governor off me, so to speak, and says that the tendon is where we need it to be and that it's not a concern to overstretch it, that means it's on me. That means it's strengthening the calf muscle, getting in shape … I can handle that.

---End of update---

UPDATE: Wednesday, June 26, at 12:10 a.m. ET

From Kobe's Twitter account:

---End of update---

UPDATE: Wednesday, June 19, at 4 p.m. ET

From ESPN.com's Arash Markazi:

---End of update---

UPDATE: Thursday, June 4, at 5:35 a.m. ET

From Kobe's Twitter account:

Kobe Bryant's road to recovery and return to the Lakers' lineup is a little bit shorter today as the superstar announced that he has ditched the crutches and is now walking without assistance.

This is such BS! All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I've done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I'm supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??

I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me...Then again maybe not! It's 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and I'm wide awake. Forgive my Venting but what's the purpose of social media if I won't bring it to you Real No Image?? Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in. There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.

One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day. "If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear". Ive always loved that quote. Thats "mamba mentality" we don't quit, we don't cower, we don't run. We endure and conquer. I know it's a long post but I'm Facebook Venting LOL. Maybe now I can actually get some sleep and be excited for surgery tomorrow. First step of a new challenge. Guess I will be Coach Vino the rest of this season. I have faith in my teammates. They will come thru. Thank you for all your prayers and support. Much Love Always. Mamba Out

---End of update---

UPDATE: Saturday, April 13, at 1:40 a.m. ET

From the Lakers' Twitter account:

Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers

An emotional Kobe: "I made a move I've made a million times, and (the Achilles) just popped."

Lakers foul Warriors on purpose so Kobe can go to the locker room. He might be done for the night...

As of right now, the team is fearing the worst. Mike Trudell of Lakers.com reported that Los Angeles believes Bryant tore his Achilles tendon and he will get an MRI on Saturday:

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter

The Lakers believe Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles. He will have an MRI tomorrow to confirm.

Bryant initially went down midway through the third quarter after being hit hard by Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli for a foul. Laying on the ground grimacing in obvious pain, Bryant was attended to by trainers and could barely even walk, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin:

Dave McMenamin @mcten

Kobe is barely able to walk after tweeking his right knee again after that Ezeli foul, but he's staying in the game

However, true to Bryant form, he refused to exit the game. The Lakers star got back up after a long stay on the Staples Center floor, took a deep breath and went to the line for his two free throws.

After an initial period of everyone in Purple and Gold nation waiting on bated breath, Bryant’s discomfort seemed to fade away. He played 45 minutes and finished the game with 34 points on 9-of-21 shooting.

But there was no superhero finish for Bryant on Friday. As the fourth quarter went along, it became obvious that the pain was getting too great and he needed to come out of the game. The Lakers then committed an intentional foul late in the fourth quarter to get their fallen star out.

The instant ramifications of this injury are massive. Los Angeles has a one-game lead over the Utah Jazz for eighth place in the Western Conference, but cannot afford any mistakes down the stretch. Utah holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Lakers, meaning L.A. has to finish a full game ahead of the Jazz to make the playoffs.

With just two games remaining in the regular season for both teams, there is no time for rest. The Lakers take on the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, and all eyes will be on Bryant’s status in the coming hours.

But after the scene at Staples Center on Friday night, this injury may have been the straw that finally broke Mamba’s back.